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Study: Local Airports Provide Major Economic Boost to Region
April 29, 2015

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BARNSTABLE – Commercial airports on the Cape and Islands are a major piece of the economic equation in the region, according to figures released Wednesday by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

The Statewide Airport Economic Impact Study found a total annual economic output of $208 million related to the Barnstable Municipal Airport in Hyannis.

Just over 2,100 people have jobs connected to the facility, with a total payroll over more than $85 million.

Nantucket Memorial Airport generated $378 million in economic activity and 3,802 related jobs, while Martha’s Vineyard Airport produced $120 million and just over 1,200 jobs.

All Massachusetts airports combined produced $16.6 billion in annual economic activity in 2014, supporting more than 162,000 jobs with a payroll of $6.1 billion.

Even the smaller general aviation airports on Cape Cod provided an economic boost to the area. The Chatham Municipal Airport generated $12.5 million in 2014, while the Falmouth Airpark produced $621,000.

Just over the bridges, the Plymouth Municipal Airport provided nearly $48 million to the local economy.

State transportation officials said the 39 public-use airports in Massachusetts bring value to the state’s economic profile.

“It is important to highlight that aviation is a strong economic catalyst in the state, sustaining over 162,000 direct and indirect jobs,” said MassDOT Aeronautics Administrator Christopher Willenborg.